wooley



(No Model.) 2 Sheets--Sheet 1.

G. W. WOOLEY.

LOOK.

N0. 4 %6,37'5x I Pa ent g Feb. 10, 1891. l i HI I jw hi I I I] mum n: II I I Inve nit 0 v.

65:22:76 Mil/Edgy:

(No Model.) z Sheets-Sheet 2. G. W. WOO-LEY. LOOK.

No. 446,375. Patented Feb. 10,1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE XV. OOLEY, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO JOHN Z. RORABACK, OF KANSAS CITY,

MISSOURI.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 446,375, dated February10, 1891.

Application filed April 18, 1889. Renewed January 19, 1891. Serial No.378,214. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE ll". \VOOLEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locks; and I dodoclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it Toappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in looks of that class whoseobjectis to afford a safeguard rather by indicating any tampering withthe same than by preventing access to the object or receptacle guardedexcept by the use of a special key or the knowledge of a certaincombination. It is useful and applicable in any connection wherein it isde sired to indicate any tampering with the lock or the article guarded;but its most common 2 5 application is in the case of freight-car doorsas a substitute for the methods of scaling in common use, enabling anytampering with the same to be discovered and the responsibility properlylocated.

The invention consists in a bolt attached to a spindle passing throughthe lock-case, the said spindle being adapted to actuate in turning bymeans of a pawl mounted thereon a series of annular ratchei'seccentrically mounted so as to rotate within the case. The ratchets aredivided into any desired number of parts, each division being providedwith a letter or other character, one of which upon each ratchet isvisible through a window in the 0 front of the case, the varyingcircumference of the ratchets and their eccentric mounting causing adifferent combination of characters to be brought into line in front ofthe window with every lifting of the bolt. The case is 5 also providedwith a receptacle for a card indicating the sealing-point, and abolt-locking device is provided within the case in such position thatthe same cannot be operated to release the bolt except by destroying thecard indicating the point of sealin The invention is more fullyillustrated and described by reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 represents a front view of the entire lock in positionas locked; Fig. 2, a view of the annular ratchets, the outer front plateof the lock being removed and the spindle being shown in position insection; Fi 3, a side view of the spindle and a portion of the bolt;Fig. 4C, a view of the bed upon which the annular ratchets rest, showingthe manner in which the same are held in position Fig. 5, a rear view ofthe case, the back plate being removed, showing the arrangement andoperation of the locking mechanism; and Fig. 6, a 6 sectional detail ofone of the annnlarratehets.

Like characters designate corresponding parts in all of the figures.

The body of the lock consists of a circular base 1, having annularflanges 2 3 projecting in each direction therefrom and forming the sidesof the case. Attached to or constructed as a part of said flanges aresuitable ears 4: at, having holes formed therethrough for the receptionof screws or rivets 5 5, by means of, which the lock is secured to thecar or other receptacle. The front of the case is closed by means of aplate 6, having corresponding ears, and a similar plate (not shown)forms the back of the lock, both front and back plates beingconveniently held in place by means of the fastening devices 5 5, beforementioned. The interior of the lock is thus divided into two circularcompartments separated by the base 1, the front or outer compartmentcontaining the registering mechanism and the inner compartment thelocking devices.

A spindle T, to which the bolt 8 is permanently attached, passes throughthe several plates forming the case, and preferably through the side ofthe car to which the lock is attached, where it is secured in place insuch a manner as to turn freely by means of a nut and washer 9 10,respectively. (Shown in Fig. The bolt is in the form of a hook, as shownin Fig. 1, and is adapted to lock the door of the car or otherreceptacle by entering a staple 11, over which is passed the eye of thehasp 12, attached to the door in the ortoo dinary manner. In unlocking,the hook is raised, thereby turning the spindle.

The locking mechanism for holding the spindle from'turning, and therebypreventing the hook from being lifted, is as follows: Upon the spindle,which is of square or angular form, and within the inner compartment ofthe case is a locking-plate 13, circular for the most part, but having aportion of its upper edge cut away, forming an upright shoulder 14. Atumbler 15, having a hook 16, adapted to engage with said shoulder 14when the spindle is so turned that the bolt 8 is down,is pivoted to thebasel within the same compartment. For raising the tumbler out ofengagement with said plate 13 the lower end of said tumbler 15 has anarm or projec= tion 17 below the pivotal point and in such a position asto be raised and to lift the hook from engagement with the shoulder 14by the introduction of. a wire or nail or the like through an aperture18 left for that purpose in the front plate and the base of the lock 1.Upon the front or outside of the face-plate and around said aperturelSis apocket or receptacle 19 for a card 20, upon which is designated thestation at which or the person by whom the car or other receptacle waslocked or sealed. The pocket is so placed that when the card is in placethe aperture is covered thereby. The card is inserted through a slit atthe top, and the whole is so located with reference to the bolt thatwhen the latter is down, as when locked, it rests upon the top of thepocket, covering the slit, and the looking device previously describedretains it in that position. Access can be had to the interiorto releasethe latch only by destroying the card 20.

As a further and more complete means for the purpose of indicating anytampering with the look I have provided the mechanism shown in detail inFig. 2. The spindle passes through the lock-case at a little distance toone side of the center, and concentric therewith ismounted an annularratchet 21, having outer and inner teeth and adapted to be turned bymeans of a gravity-pawl 22, mounted upon the spindle, which is squaredfor that purpose, as shown at 23, Fig. 3. The turning of the spindle bythe lifting of the bolt causes the pawl to engage with the inner teethof the ratchet 21, while on the lowering of the bolt the pawl rides overthe teeth, rising upon the spindle, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.The outer teeth of the ratchet 21 mesh with the inner teeth of a secondannular double ratchet 24, and the outer teeth of the ratchet 24 meshwith a third ratchet 25, the outer circumference of which bearsagainstthe inside of the flange 2. The inner, intermediate, and outer ratchetshave their radii substantially in the ratio of 2, 3, and 4, re-

spectively, and the center of the intermediate ratchet ishalf-waybetween the other two centers, by which arrangement the severalratchets intermesh for a short distance upon one side, leaving theremainder of the circle to move independently. The ratchets are held inposition, the outer one by its bearing against the flange 2 and theinner and intermediate ones by means of annular grooves 26 27, adaptedto receive an annular rib or flange 28 formed upon the under side ofeach ratchet, as shown in Fig. 6. There may be any desired number ofratchets arranged in the same manner as the intermediate 24, therebylargely increasing the number of possible combinations indicated by thelook, as will be now set forth.

Upon the face of each of the ratchets is a series of characters,letters,or figures, or both, as shown, there being but one character of the samekind upon the same ratchet. These are properly so arranged withreference to the distance moved over byeach ratchet at each lifting ofthe bolt that the characters upon each ratchet shall be brought intoline at some point, for convenience, in line with the several centers,and at the point where the ratchets intermesh. Opposite this point inthe front plate of the case is provided a window 29 of sufficient sizeto show the characters as brought into line.

It will be observed from the construction shown in the foregoing thateach raising of the bolt through the working of the pawl 22 upon thespindle causes the several ratchets to rotate from right to left, whilethe lowering of the bolt does not change their position. A differentcombination of characters is thus brought into line before the window 29with each raising of the bolt, and the same combination cannot bereproduced until all the combinations are exhausted. The num 'ber ofcombinations is capable of infinite, va-

riation, being dependent only upon the re lations which the ratchetssustain to each other and the divisions thereupon.

Though this invention has been illustrated and described as a lock forthe doors of freightcars, it is obvious that it may be employed withequal efficiency for any purpose wherein the object to be attained isthe detection of and the location of responsibility for any tamperingwith the same. In slightly-modified form the principle may be applied tolooks for mail-bags and the like, and afford a complete check againstmanipulation by any person into whose hands it may come. In cases wherethe parts are not, liable always to remain in an upright position thepawl and tumbler described herein as gravity-actuated may be given apositive motion in any position by means of springs, as shown in dottedlines at 30 31 in Figs. 2-and 5, respectively.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a safety lock or guard for freight-cardoors and the like, the combination of registering mechanism comprisinga series of intermeshing annular ratchets eccentrically mounted, a pawlfor actuating one of said annular ratchets, and a bolt mounted upon aspindle connected with said pawl for actuating the same by raising saidbolt and turning IIO said spindle, substantially as and for the purposeherein specified.

2. In a safety lock or guard, the combina tion of registering mechanismconsisting of a series of intermeshing annular ratchets having outer andinner teeth and eccentrically mounted one within another by means of anannular flange formed upon the under side thereof and working in asimilar annular groove-bearing formed in the base-plate of the look, apawl for actuating one of said ratchets, and a hook-bolt mounted upon aspindle connected with said pawl for actuating the same by the liftingof said bolt, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

In a safety lock or guard for freight-car doors and the like, thecombination of registering mechanism consisting of a series ofintermeshing annular ratchets eccentrically mounted, a hook-boltcarrying a spindle pass ing within the inner circumference of one ormore of said annular ratchets, and agravit-yactuated pawl mounted uponan angular portion of said spindle and adapted to slide thereon and turntherewith in position to engage with one of said ratchets when said boltis lifted, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

l. In asafety lock or guard for freight-ear doors and the like, thecombination of registering mechanism consisting of a series ofintermeshing annular ratchets eecentrically and rotatively mounted onewithin another, a hook-bolt attached to a spindle carrying a pawladapted to actuate one of said ratchets when said bOlt is lifted, anotched plate upon said spindle, and a tumbler-latch adapted to engagewith the notch in said plate when the bolt is lowered, substantially asand for the purpose herein specified.

5. In a safety lock or guard for freight-car doors and the like, thecombination of regis tering mechanism consisting of a series of numberedor lettered intermeshing annular ratchets eccentrically and rotativelymounted one within another, a hook-bolt mounted upon a spindle carryinga pawl adapted to actuate the inner of said ratchets when said bolt islifted, a notched plate upon said spindle and turning therewith,agravity-actuated latch in position to engage with the notch in saidplate when the bolt is lowered and preventthe lifting of the same, and acasing inclosing said registering and locking devices and havingapertures therein to afford communication therewith, substantially asand for the purpose herein specified.

6. In a safety lock or guard for freight-car doors and the like, thecombination of registering mechanism, a hook-bolt mounted upon a spindlecarrying a pawl for actuating the registering mechanism, a notched platemounted upon said spindle, a latch or tumbler pivotally mounted inposition to engage with the notch in said plate when the bolt is loweredto prevent the lifting of the same, casing inclosing said registeringand locking devices and having an aperture opposite said latch to affordcommunication therewith for the purpose of lifting the same, and aseal-receptacle surrounding said aperture and having its entrance inposition to be closed by said bolt when lowered, whereby access can behad to said latch only by destroying said seal, substantially as setforth.

7. In a safety lock or guard for freight-car doors and the like, a boltmounted upon a spindle passing through the case of said look, a notchedplate upon said spindle, a latch or tumbler pivotally mounted inposition to engage with the notch in said plate when the bolt is loweredto prevent the lifting of the same, a casin ginclosin g said lockingdevice, affording a bearing for said spindle, and having an aperturetherein furnishing communication with said latch for the purpose ofreleasing the same, and a seal-receptacle sur rounding said aperture andhaving its entrance in position to be closed by said bolt when locked,substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

8. In a safety lock or guard, the combination, with the bolt, ofregistering mechanism consisting of a series of numbered or letteredannular ratchets eccentrically mounted one within another, a pawlcarried by said bolt in position to engage with one of said ratchets andoperate the same with the movement of the bolt in unlocking and to rideover the ratchet without engagement on the reverse movement of the bolt,and a casing inclosing said registering mechanism having an aperturetherein in position to disclose one character upon each of the saidratchets as the same are brought before it by the rotary movement of theratchets, substantially as set forth.

0. In a safety lock or guard, the combina tion of the bolt, a pawlcarried by said bolt, and registering mechanism comprising a series ofintermeshing annular ratchets eccentrically mounted one within anotherin position to be actuated by the engagement with one of said ratchetsof the said pawl by the movement of the bolt in the operation ofunlocking, each of said ratchets having characters thereupon so spacedwith relation to the distance moved over by the respective ratchets ateach complete unlocking movement of the bolt that characters upon theseveral ratchets are brought into line at a predetermined point,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE \V. IVOOLEY.

Witnesses:

S. E. HALL, F. \V. LANE.

